Lynam's Instant Replay: Celtics 103, Sixers 79

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BOSTON -- The Celtics came to TD Garden on Easter Sunday prepared to deliver a knockout punch in the fight for the Atlantic Division title.

The veteran Celtics forced the Sixers into early turnovers and used their defense to stifle a Sixers team that already lacked confidence, having lost four of their last five games, and 17 of its last 26.

It was dreadful to watch. The Sixers looked like a shell of the team that once punished the opposition with their defense, running them out of the gym.

But it was the Celtics ran away with this one, winning 103-79 and dropping the Sixers' overall record to 29-27. It is the first time since winning their home opener against Detroit that the Sixers' record is just two games above .500.

With the loss, the Sixers trail Boston by three games in the division. Because New York beat Chicago in overtime earlier on Sunday, and the Knicks own the tiebreaker against the Sixers, Doug Collins' team drops to eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.

Staying in the playoff picture will require work. Milwaukee is in ninth place, but only one game behind the Sixers.

The Sixers committed eight of their 16 turnovers in the first 15 minutes of the game. They scored 22 points off Boston turnovers and had 14 fastbreak points.
Turning Point
The second quarter did the Sixers in. Once again, they could not make shots (6 for 22) nor keep the Cs from hitting buckets (8 for 16). Saturday night, it was the starters who struggled mightily, being outscored 12-2 to start the game and 15-7 coming out in the third quarter.

Sunday night, the woeful scoring honors went to the bench. Saturday night Lou Williams, Jodie Meeks and Thaddeus Young scored 51 of the teams 82 points.

At the half against Boston they were a combined 0-for-11 shooting. Consistency is not the Sixers' middle name.

Follow the Leader
Kevin Garnett was responsible for changing the culture in Beantown when he arrived four years ago with his toughness and defensive mindset. He had 20 points through three quarters on 8-for-11 shooting. Brandon Bass missed just two of his 10 field goal attempts. Paul Pierce added 17 points.

In a reserve role, Ray Allen scored 10 points.

As a team, the Celtics shot 63 percent from the floor through three quarters. The fourth quarter was garbage time on both sides.

Andre Iguodala scored 13 points and Evan Turner added 10; they were the lone starters in double figures.

Stat-egic
Rajon Rondo had nine assists in the third quarter, four more than the Sixers team in the same period. He finished with 15 of the Celtics' 29 dimes in the game. Meanwhile, one day after dishing 23 assists, the Sixers managed just 15.
Take A Bow
Nik Vucevic has not been part of the regular rotation for almost three weeks, but when Spencer Hawes committed a turnover early in the first quarter and proceeded to have a meltdown -- evident by his body language -- Vucevic was asked to sub.

Vucevic proceeded to score 14 points and grab 13 rebounds for the second double-double of his NBA career.
Whats Next
The Sixers travel north on the New Jersey Turnpike Monday for a Tuesday game with the Nets. It will be the second of three meetings between the teams. The Nets won the first matchup in Philadelphia behind 34 points from leading scorer Deron Williams.

The Nets had a slow start to the season, but are playing close to .500 basketball over the past five weeks.E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com

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